Province warns Islanders to be careful with flames as forest fire season begins

Raphael Caron · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 22, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

The Prince Edward Island authorities is reminding radical to beryllium cautious with extracurricular burning arsenic the wildfire play begins.

Fire precaution measures went into effect March 15 and volition tally until Nov. 15.

Environment, Energy and Climate Action Minister Gilles Arsenault is asking Islanders not to bash thing to spark a damaging blaze.  

"Please don't provender the wildfires," the curate was quoted arsenic saying successful a quality release. "P.E.I. had a fewer forest fires last year, and thankfully the harm was minimal.

"I anticipation each Islanders volition recommit to taking the important steps to forestall wood fires."

Although out-of-control fires are uncommon successful P.E.I., communities person been increasing more mindful of them, particularly aft large blazes successful neighbouring Nova Scotia successful 2023 destroyed more than 200 homes and consumed 25,000 hectares of forest. 

Late past year, immoderate North Shore residents gathered to sermon lingering risks from decaying branches and fallen trees aft 2022's post-tropical tempest Fiona, fearing the debris could fuel fires.

Precautions erstwhile burning fires

Permits are not required to light recreational campfires connected Prince Edward Island, though the state urges radical to cheque and obey municipal occurrence restrictions astatine each times.

Permits are not needed for home brushwood burning either, but fires can't beryllium ignited until aft 2 p.m. and person to extinguished by 8 a.m. the adjacent morning. 

Other proposal connected remaining harmless erstwhile burning brush:

• Ensure fires are tiny and preferably contained successful a occurrence pit oregon different approved outdoor burning structure;
• Ensure you have resources adjacent astatine manus erstwhile starting a occurrence (water, occurrence suppression tools, different people);
• Remain adjacent the occurrence for a portion aft it has died down to marque definite it doesn't re-ignite; and
• Keep a afloat charged telephone with you successful lawsuit of emergency.

Islanders should telephone 911 to study a wildfire oregon a brushwood occurrence that has gotten retired of control.